Jacob Van Rooyen kicked three final quarter goals in Melbourne's 18 point win over Richmond at the MCG.
(AFL Photos)
After trailing for most of the match, the Melbourne Demons launched an Anzac Day Eve comeback to defeat the fighting Tigers by 18 points at the final siren, the scoreboard read 15.6 (96) to 11.12 (78).
The win was the Demons’ fourth for the season and puts them in third position on the ladder while the Tigers face a grim reality, sitting 16th with one win.
It was Melbourne’s biggest home crowd in almost six decades as 83,985 people packed into the MCG to watch what many thought would be one-sided game, in favour of the red and blue.
20-year-old excitement machine, Jacob Van Rooyen had the crowd chanting ‘Roo’ as he kicked three goals in the final 10 minutes, including a massive pack mark to see the Dees home to victory.
Jack Viney was the star of the show for Melbourne with 30 disposals and a goal, the veteran received the Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes medal for best on ground.
Jack Viney with his best on ground Frank 'Checker' Hughes Medal.
(AFL Photos)
The usual suspects were among the best players for the victors as Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Max Gawn lifted in the final term to dominate in the midfield.
Jake Lever was a crucial inclusion down back taking 10 marks and was damaging with his 10 intercept possessions, while Kade Chandler cashed in with three goals at the other end.
The likes of Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper and Dustin Martin fought hard for the yellow and black, Jayden Short was a huge inclusion collecting 30 touches and locking down Kysaiah Pickett.
Jack Riewoldt was back to his best despite the absence of his partner in crime, Tom Lynch as the champion forward kicked four goals including his 400th at the MCG.
The light ceremony kicked off the Anzac Day Eve proceedings at the MCG, with the last post to follow marking a commemorative occasion.
The action begun and it took just three minutes for Melbourne’s Alex Neal Bullen to capitalise on a stoppage clearance about 20 metres out from goal as he snapped the opening goal of the game.
However, Richmond found a purple patch as dynamic youngster, Noah Cumberland drilled home three first-quarter goals to give his side an 18-point lead at quarter time.
The second term was an arm-wrestle, but the Tigers were on the right side of the result.
When Hopper went inside 50 and found Samson Ryan with a great kick and the big man went back and put it through the big sticks, the margin was out to 25 points and the Tigers were roaring.
Late goals in the second term to Bayley Fritsch and Ed Langdon reduced the margin to 14 points at the main break, however Richmond’s pressure had given it the upper hand.
The premiership quarter belonged to Melbourne as Chandler found his way into the game and when Oliver slammed home a set shot after the siren, the Demons trailed by just two points, and it was anyone’s game.
The Tigers needed a lift in the fourth quarter, but Melbourne began to get on top around the ground, as the two-punch combination of Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy getting the best of the undermanned Richmond ruck stocks.
When Gawn kicked a goal in the 22nd minute of the game, the Dees led by 19 points, and it was too late for the Tiges.
Van Rooyen’s brilliance was the dagger in the heart of the Richmond fans, with the substitution of Ben Miller coming in costly.
Richmond will rue a number of missed opportunities as kicking was ultimately one of the main let downs from the final term with both sides having six shots on goal.
The Tigers kicked 1.5 while the Demons rounded out an incredible accurate night in front of goal with 5.1, the final margin sitting at 18 points.
In the post-match press conference, Melbourne’s Simon Goodwin said his side’s comeback-win displayed great “character”.
“Coming from 25 points down, sometimes you’ve got to win differently, and tonight was one of those times,” he said.
“Tonight, was a special occasion in front of a big crowd, to find a way in that second half was outstanding by the lads.”
After dominating at VFL level last year with 36 goals for the season, Van Rooyen has played four games and kicking nine goals after adding three tonight.
After just one kick across three quarters, Goodwin was looking at subbing Van Rooyen off before he took the game apart late.
“He was pretty much coming off at his next rotation, we were about to sub him out … thank God we didn’t do that - Simon Goodwin
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